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ICSSCCET.2015.043
Removal of mercury from aqueous solution- Review on
current status and development
1 ,2 ,3
D.Anitha1, O.A.Sridevi2, R.Subha3
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry,
Karpagam Institute of Technology, Coimbatore
ABSTRACT: Environmental pollution due to heavy metals like mercury is of serious concern throughout the world. Due to
anthropogenic activities, the concentration of mercury has increased in the environment. Though many methods are available
for mercury removal, adsorption is considered as simple, economical and versatile method. In this paper the efficiency of
mercury removal from aqueous solution using agricultural waste, polymers and nano material were reviewed.
Keywords: Heavy metal; Modification; Adsorption; Isotherm
1. INTRODUCTION
Heavy metals are abundant in our drinking water, air and soil because they are present in every area of modern consumerism like
construction materials, cosmetics, medicines, processed foods and personal care products [1]. Natural inputs of mercury to the
environment are related to weathering of mercuriferous area, the degassing from surface water and from the earth’s crust through
volcanic eruptions, naturally caused forest fires, and biogenic emissions [2]. Mercury is a pervasive contaminant that is highly toxic and
is readily accumulated by organisms [3,4]. Mercury may enter a human body by inhalation of mercury vapor as Hg 0, drinking water as
inorganic mercury, Hg2+, and/or by the consumption of fish and fish products as methyl mercury, CH3Hg+ in the diet [5,6]. In small
quantities, certain heavy metals are nutritionally essentially for a healthy life, but in large amounts they may cause acute or chronic
toxicity (poisoning). The absorption of this hazardous substance into the bloodstream, distribution to the entire tissues and
bioaccumulation in the receptive sites leads to adverse effects, such as potent neurotoxicity, blood vessel congestion and kidney
damages [7].
Various methods exist for the removal of mercury from water which include chemical precipitation/ coagulation, membrane
technology, electrolytic reduction, ion exchange and adsorption [8, 9].Among various available methods for the removal of Hg,
adsorption has been shown to be an economically feasible and easily applicable alternative using various adsorbents [10-12]. The other
methods are not to be effective and least possible for treatment of mercury form water. More number of studies on mercury removal
has been reported in the literature. In the present work, we have reviewed the recent articles on the mercury removal from aqueous
solution by considering the effect of various parameters such as pH, temperature, metal ion concentration, contact time, and
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Cite this article as: D.Anitha, O.A.Sridevi, R.Subha. “Removal of mercury from aqueous solution- Review
on current status and development.” International Conference on Systems, Science, Control,
Communication, Engineering and Technology (2015): 195-198. Print.
International Conference on Systems, Science, Control, Communication, Engineering and Technology
196
adsorbent dosage on mercury uptake. These factors are of the utmost significance, as any change in these parameters may considerably
change the mercury removal efficiency of an adsorbent.
2. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Most of the studies have been performed in batch mode operation. Synthetic stock solutions were prepared by dissolving
mercury compounds (mercury nitrate, mercury chloride etc) for adsorption studies. Adsorption and kinetic plots were noted. Few
authors have performed thermodynamic and column studies also.
2.1 Effect of temperature
Temperature plays a significant role in the uptake of mercury ion from the surface at ambient temperatures. Depending
upon the adsorption mechanism, the rate may either increase or decrease with temperature [13]. Xincheng et al., observed a significant
decline in adsorption with increasing temperature indicating that the process is endothermic [18]. Rajamohan, observed an increase in
mercury adsorption capacity with increase in temperature indicating the process to be exothermic [20].
2.2 Effect of pH
Adsorption of mercury is very sensitive to the pH. The adsorption capacities were found to be low at low pH values and
increased with increase in pH. The mechanism of adsorption can be explained based on pH. The mercury ions were bound to the
adsorbent surfaces mainly by the process of the ion exchange and physico-chemical adsorption as the ionic mobility plays an important
role. The mobility of ions and rate of interactions between oppositively charged ions and adsorbent surfaces are more pronounced in
dilute solutions. Anurudhin et al observed the percentage removal to increase gradually with increasing pH and reach an optimum
value of 6.The solution pH affects the surface charge of the adsorbent, the degree of ionization and the speciation of the surface
functional group [16].
2.3 Effect of Contact time and initial metal ion concentration
The initial concentration of metal ions provides an important driving force to overcome all mass transfer resistances of the
metal ion between the aqueous and solid phases [28]. Equilibrium time is one of the important parameters for selecting a wastewater
treatment system [29]. Equlibrium concentration increases with increase in adsorbate concentration due to saturation of sorption sites
on the adsorbent [26]. Anirudhan et al carried out adsorption experiments at concentrations from 25 to 100 mg/L and found an increase
in adsorption of metal ion with increase in contact time of 3 hr [16]. Syed and Ganesan indicate that the increase in initial concentration
of Hg(II) ions resulted in a reduction in the percentage removal using Eucalyptus globules bark as adsorbent It was observed that, the
percentage removal of Hg (II) ions decreases exponentially with the increase in the initial concentration of Hg(II) ions. This may be
due to reduction in immediate solute adsorption, owing to the lack of available active sites on the adsorbents surface compared to the
relatively large number of active sites required for high initial concentration of Hg (II) ions [25].
2.4 Effect of Adsorbent Dose
Dosage of adsorbent is a key parameter to control both availability and accessibility of adsorption sites [30].Adsorption has been
found increasing with the increase in dose of adsorbent. But with the higher dose of adsorbent in the solution, the mobility of the ion
reduces and there results a decrease in the rate of adsorption.
Syed and Ganesan found an increase in removal of Hg (II) with
increase in dose of adsorbent due to increase in availability of active sites [25].
2.5 Adsorption and Kinetics equilibrium
The equilibrium relationships between adsorbent and adsorbate are best explained by adsorption isotherms [31].Several
equilibrium isotherm models were employed in order to study the nature of adsorption process. These include two parameter
isotherms such as the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and three parameter isotherms such as the Sips and
Redlich Peterson respectively.
The adsorption kinetics is significant in the treatment of wastewater, as it provides valuable insights into the reaction pathways
and rate of reactions [32]. These models include the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, intraparticle diffusion and
Baughman’s plot. The adsorption capacities, isotherm and kinetics of various adsorbents were given in Table 1.
Conclusion
The present review has established that adsorption offers a great opportunity for a cheap and highly effective process for the
removal of mercury (II) ions from aqueous solution. Experimental parameters like temperature, solution pH ,metal ion concentration,
adsorbant dose, contact time and adsorption kinetics influence adsorption process. On the basis of evidences presented in this review
there exist a significant potential for future research in utilizing the adsorbent in industries, agriculture as well as for domestic
puropose.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to the Management, Principal and Head of department Karpagam Institute of technology for their
continuous support and providing us facilities to carry out the research work.
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Communication, Engineering and Technology (2015): 195-198. Print.
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on current status and development.” International Conference on Systems, Science, Control,
Communication, Engineering and Technology (2015): 195-198. Print.
International Conference on Systems, Science, Control, Communication, Engineering and Technology
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Table 1 Removal of mercury from aqueous solution using agro waste, polymers and nano material from selected literature.
Adsobent
Activation
Q
max
-1
(mg g )
pH
Wal nut
Zinc chloride
151.51
2
Bio masslichen
(Xanthoparmelia
conspersa)
Coconut buttons
Un Modified
82.5
6
Acid
activation(H2SO4)
Surfactant
modification
41.83
7
Bamboo Leaf
Triton X-100
Modified
SDS Modified
Coconut
Isotherm
model
L,F,
Langergren
Kinetics studied
Reference
Pseudo first order,
Second order
Zabihi et al. (2009)
[14]
L,F
Pseudo first order,
Pseudo second order
MustafaTuzen et al.
|(20009)[15]
L,F
Pseudo first order,
,Second order
Pseudo first order,
Second order,
Elovich
Anirudhan et al.
(2011) [16]
Dilip Kumar Mondal
et al. (2013) [17]
First order,
Second, order,
Pseudo second order
Second order
Xincheng et al.
(2013) [18]
L,F,Temkin
Langergren
8
H2O2
27.1
28.1
31.05
5.236
Pistachio shell
Un Modified
2.299
6
Pistachio Hulls
Acid
activation(HCl)
Chemical
polymerization
113.64
7
280.11
5
L
polystyrene
coated CoFe2O4
modified with 2(3-(2aminoethylthio)pr
opylthio)ethanam
ine (AEPE-PSMPs)
chemically
activated by
H3PO4 and then
modified with
2,6diaminopyridine.
Sol gel
-
7-8
-
Pseudo first,order,
Second order
Kunawoot Jainae et
al.
(2014)[22]
384.62
mg/g
1.5
L,F
Pseudo first, order,
second order
Mokhtari et al.
(2015)[23]
311
6
L,F
Arshadi et al.
(2015)[24]
Acid activation
(HNO3)
4.014
7
L,F
Pseudo first order,
Second order,
Intra-particle diffusion
First order,
Intra particle diffusion
Un Modified
147.05
-4.71
181.8
5
7
7
L,F
First,Second order
L,F. Henry,
DubininRadshkevich,
Pseudo first
Second,order,
Elovich,Bangham
AkbarEsmaeili et al.
(2015) [26]
Limei Cui et al.
(2015)[27]
Polyaniline/
cellulose acetate
composite
Polymer
Pine Cone
Manganese
chloride
nanoparticle
Eucalyptus
globules bark
Bio mass
S. glaucescens
G. corticata,
Graphite
Hummer
modification
L,F,
Langergren
L,F
Pseudo second order,
Intra particle diffusion
Pseudo first order,
Second order
Zahar Aghajani et
al.(2014) [19]
Rajamohan et al.
(2014) [20]
Renjie Li et al
.(2014)[21]
Syed Meera et al.
(2015) [25]
L,Langmuir;F,Friendlich
Cite this article as: D.Anitha, O.A.Sridevi, R.Subha. “Removal of mercury from aqueous solution- Review
on current status and development.” International Conference on Systems, Science, Control,
Communication, Engineering and Technology (2015): 195-198. Print.